The Philippines claimed Sabah through the rights of the Sultan of Sulu. The dispute strained relations with Malaysia and twice disrupted regional cooperation.
In 1878 the Sultan of Sulu granted North Borneo to European traders, whose rights passed to the British North Borneo Company. The Philippines later argued that this was a lease, not a sale, and that it had inherited the Sultan's rights.
In 1962 President Macapagal formally claimed Sabah. The Philippines opposed its inclusion in Malaysia and refused to recognise Malaysia in 1963. Full relations were restored only in 1966.
In 1968 the dispute flared again. Reports revealed that the Philippines had trained men on Corregidor island for operations in Sabah. Talks in Bangkok failed. In September 1968 the Philippine Congress passed a law describing Sabah as Philippine territory, and Malaysia suspended diplomatic relations.
The dispute disrupted ASEAN, which was barely a year old. Other members, especially Indonesia and Thailand, pressed both sides to calm down. Relations were restored in December 1969.
The claim was never settled. In 1977 President Marcos said the Philippines would take steps to drop it, but this was never completed. The dispute was shelved rather than solved.
- Claim filed
- 1962, by President Macapagal.
- Corregidor affair
- 1968.
- Relations restored
- December 1969.
Worked example: Linking Sabah to regional cooperation
How did the Sabah dispute affect cooperation?
- 1963: it helped paralyse the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) and Maphilindo.
- 1968-1969: it disrupted the new ASEAN.
- Response: other ASEAN members urged restraint.
- Outcome: the claim was shelved, not solved.
Watch out for this
The Sabah dispute ended with a ruling by an international court.
It was never settled. Both sides chose to shelve it to protect ASEAN and their relations.
Check your understanding
What happened in September 1968?
- The Philippine Congress described Sabah as Philippine territory, and Malaysia suspended relations.
- Malaysia gave Sabah to the Philippines.
- The Philippines left ASEAN.